Reporter’s diary

Press, 23 November 1988, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Rumbled again GOSH, is it that time again already? Invoices for unsolicited listings in international facsimile directories make regular unwelcome appearances. The latest, from “International Telex Communications Systems,” P.O. Box 529, FL 9490 Vaduz, arrived at the Canterbury Communication Centre, where the nature of the invoice was quickly spotted. The cost of a “listing” has also risen since the last’ one noted in this column, and now stands at SUS 946. So be warned. Got him taped BEHIND the election campaign scenes can now be revealed. Remember how Michael Dukakis used to flail away while addressing rallies? Democratic Party workers cured his gesticulating habit quite simply. Soon before he rose to speak, double-sided sticky tape was placed on the podium

shelf where Dukakis rested his palms — and where they stayed for the speech. Down to size IT was only a matter of time. A family in the Irish Republic says that George Bush is probably of Irish ancestry. Mary Hastings (nee Bush), from Cork, says that she is almost certain that the Presidentelect is the son of a grand-uncle who disappeared after a family row many years ago. Hastings claims that there is a great resemblance between George Bush and her father and grandfather. “He has the same sallow skin, the receding hairline and wears glasses, just like all the other members of the Bush family.” Feet of clay

EVEN if George Bush does wear glasses, there are some Americans who don’t want to know. When

a photo of the Presidentelect with his glasses on, and looking solemn, was published in “The Press” last week, an irate American tourist rang us. “It is a terrible, terrible photograph, and he doesn’t look anything like that. Simply terrible,” moaned the visitor. Poor disillusioned chap. Fancy believing all those toothpaste-smiley, dashing-figure propaganda photos. Worse, pity poor Bush having to live up to them. Car search

ONE of the newer innercity private car parks quite fairly warns people that it is a “24-hour towaway area.” Perhaps less fairly, it omits to tell wrong-doers where their vehicles have been towed away to, which can be a daunting problem, as one Television New Zealand employee recently discovered. He knew where he had parked his car. He knew it had been towed away, but he had no idea

by whom or to where. This made things a bit tricky, especially late at night. The solution, as a piece of useful information for future reference, is to ring the Christchurch Police Station. The police keep a roster of all towaway firms and their rounds. Pushy WELL, really. The normally prim, pink pages of the “Financial Times” are getting quite frivolous. A recent tale concerned a woman who kept staring at a man by a swimming pool in a Florida hotel. After a while he became embarrassed and decided to approach her. He said he could not place her face, but did she perhaps know him? “I’m terribly sorry,” she replied. “It’s just that you look so like my third husband.” “Really?” he said, “You’ve been married three times?” “No. Twice.” —Jenny Setchell